The Carolina Panthers have chosen Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales as their new head coach.
A coordinator for just one season, Canales started as a strength coach at USC with Pete Carroll in 2009 and became Carroll's receivers coach with the Seattle Seahawks in 2010. He stayed with the Seahawks until 2022, finishing as quarterbacks coach, where he worked with Geno Smith during his Comeback Player of the Year campaign.
He took the Tampa Bay offensive coordinator job last offseason. He worked closely with Baker Mayfield, who had his best professional season in Canales' offense, setting career bests in yards (4,044) and touchdowns (28). Tampa Bay made it to the Divisional Round, where it lost to the Detroit Lions.
The Panthers targeted an offensive-minded head coach to pair up with former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, similar to the Miami Dolphins' approach with Tua Tagovailoa when they hired Mike McDaniel. Young finished his rookie season with 2,877 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Canales will be paired up with new Panthers GM Dan Morgan. The two spent eight years together in Seattle from 2010-2017.
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